The Fourth Sorrowful Mystery // The Carrying of the Cross
Fruit of the Mystery // Patience
Reflect
Many of us have had seasons in our lives when we were not sure how we would get through the day. Faced with life's inexplicable and sudden burdens, our legs buckle and hearts tremble. Our Lord also knew the crushing weight of darkness, of sin. He bore all of it, carrying the Holy Cross up Mount Calvary.
Imagine the force of the full weight of a tree landing on Jesus as He fell three times on the way to Calvary. Imagine the strength of His love for you as He lifted the Cross again each time to continue the climb. This is true love.
True love is not just a sweet word and an exhilarated heartbeat, but it is the power of God's grace in us. Saint John says, "God is love and those who live in love, live in God and God in them" (1 John 4:16).
Love, therefore, can redefine everything we do. It can imbue every moment with meaning because love unites us to Jesus' salvific love—each time we decide to move forward in our struggles, each time we pray for our enemies, each time we clean a countertop, show up for another grueling workday, or take up our daily cross.
Jesus says, “unless you take up your cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple” (see Luke 14:27).
Let Us Pray
Jesus, thank You for Your overwhelming love for us. Thank You for the sacrifice You made for our salvation. Thank You for carrying the Cross for us then, and for carrying our crosses with us now. We offer them to You, and ask you for the patience in bearing them. Amen.
For Discussion
Where is my heart and what am I seeking as I go about my day? What would happen if I offered every moment to God as an act of love, as a prayer?
What burdens make my knees quiver now and can I invite the Lord to carry the cross with me and to teach me how to “take up my cross daily and follow Him”?
Praying the Rosary
Throughout the Prayer Pledge and beyond, we really encourage you to pray the Rosary! Since we will be looking at the fruits of the Mysteries of the Rosary, it only makes sense to actually pray it!
Here is a guide on how to pray the Rosary.
I like this podcast and this podcast for praying the Rosary.
Hallow also has a marvelous Rosary meditation.
And if you want to go even deeper in to the Rosary, check out Mystery!
By Their Fruits: The 2021 Prayer Pledge // Day 21 #BISblog #prayerpledge //Click to tweet
Maria Kim-Ngân Bùi, after twenty years in religious life, is discerning a call to found a community of consecrated religious women dedicated to Our Lady and who will pray reparation for sins against the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, pray for conversions, and work for the evangelization of those who have left the Church or feel furthest from the Church.
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